EFCC dismisses alleged raid of Governor Kashim Shettima’s residence

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has dismissed news and photos being circulated on social media alleging that the commission had raid a residence of Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima and recovered a huge sum of money.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren told journalists on Sunday that the commission was neither aware of any raid nor recovery of funds in the residence of the Governor.

“We are not aware of anything like that” the EFCC spokesman said in clear terms.

A top official of the EFCC who responded to media enquiry, explained the the way the information was being circulated falls short of EFCC’s mode of operation.

“Anything about the activities of the EFCC is usually made public. When the commission raided a house belonging to former GMD of NNPC in Kaduna and recovered dollars, the EFCC announced it. When the commission raided the so called NIA house of covert operation in Ikoyi and recovered dollars, the raid was made public, the same thing happened on all raids carried out by the Commission. If the EFCC deemed it appropriate to raid any house to the extent cash was recovered, it will be in the best operational interest of the EFCC to make the recovery public in order to justify the raid. But in this case, there was never a raid. Interestingly, the pictures as I saw them claimed that the raid was jointly carried out by the EFCC and ICPC and this is strange. We don’t operate jointly. Apart from that, the President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies have immunity from such raids as provided by 308 of the Nigerian Constitution”, Leadership.ng reports.

In a swift reaction, media aides to Governor Shettima led by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, claimed that “the same pictures being circulated as having been obtained from the Internet in order to tarnish the Governor’s image.

“It is just a continuation of series of mischief being planted by some evil politicians to discredit Governor Kashim Shettima. This is the 7th mischief in two weeks. They started with an alleged phone call with Governor Ibikunle Amosun, came with different press conferences including one on workers verification and then the latest. I am sure they will continue till the 2019 elections are over but they should know that even Boko Haram couldn’t distract Governor Shettima” Gusau charged.